I am a NC native who attended Meredith College as a NC Teaching Fellow. During my sophomore year, I studied abroad in Puerto Rico as an exchange student at the University of the Sacred Heart in San Juan. It was without a doubt one of the most defining times of my life, & I am grateful for the experiences I had and people I met on that breathtaking island. ¡Boriqua de corazon!

Following my tenure at Meredith, I returned to my hometown & spent five years teaching 3rd & 4th grade. Being able to tell my students, “I sat where you sat,” was a powerful opportunity because it allowed me to help my students discover a world they may not have otherwise explored. During this time, I completed the Masters of School Administration program through Western Carolina University & I was introduced to the concept of a BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal). The term Big Hairy Audacious Goal was coined by James Collins & Jerry Porras in their book entitled Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies(1994). Ever since then I have tackled at least one BHAG a year! Soon after graduation, I became the Assistant Principal of Curriculum & Instruction at a local high school and was thrilled to be able to work with a brand new age group of students. I also was accepted into the PhD program for Leadership Studies at NC A&T State University, and three years later I was named principal of an elementary school not too far from my hometown at the age of 29.

This past December, I completed the PhD program at NC A&T State University and successfully defended my dissertation entitled, “Teacher Perceptions of Teacher Leadership and Shared Vision: A Correlational Study using the NC Teacher Working Conditions Survey”. There is something powerful about a vision actualized. The vision of my parents witnessing their daughter become a doctor (the first on either side of the family) had propelled me through years of formal education, professional and personal challenges, & moments of triumph.

The story is still being written, & there are many more BHAGs to tackle, visions to materialize, & molds to make. I look forward to the journey…

Saturday, April 18, 2015

I chat with Tammy and Carlie about tips and best practices for using Voxer to develop a PLN.

Carlie Stigler is a 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade multiage teacher at Fond du Lac STEM Academy in Fond du Lac Wisconsin. She attended Carroll University and received her bachelors degree in Elementary Education and Special Education with a minor in Early Childhood. During her student teaching experience, Carlie participated in a yearlong residency program within the Hartland Lakeside School District. This opportunity allowed her to engage and grow in working with teachers and students, developing habits of a reflective and collaborative educator. As a first year teacher Carlie is on a mission to facilitate learning spaces that embody community, inclusion, collaboration, and personalizing learning amongst and between educators and students. As Carlie continues to grow as an educator and learner, she is excited to be a part of the changes in our education system that need to occur to meet the interests and demands of our world.

Tammy Neil teaches Computer Applications and Game Design at Branford High School in Branford, FL. This is her 24th year in education. She's taught every grade from 4th to 12th. I also spent 8 years as a School Media Specialist.

Tammy co-moderates the #FLedChat on Wednesdays at 8 pm edt, and #RuralEdChat at 8:30 pm edt on Tuesdays. She is a founding member of the FullCirclePD.org team and actively participates in their round table discussions through GHOs and Twitter. She is also a semi-regular blogger on tammyneil.com.

This year Tammy was named Branford High School's 2014-2015 Teacher of the Year. She's been nominated for a Bammy (High School Teacher of the Year) as well as, Edsurge's Caring is Sharing Award. Tammy recently led the organization team for #EdcampBranford, the first Edcamp not only in her district but also in the surrounding 50 mile radius.

Monday, April 13, 2015

I chat with Kerry Gallagher about being a connected educator, and her thoughts on how being connected impacts one's teaching and learning inside and outside the classroom.

Kerry has taught 8-12 grade social studies in public schools in New Hampshire and Massachusetts for 12 years. She has presented at conferences including MassCUE and the Blueprint for Excellence National Conference. Kerry’s classroom is paperless. Her students use mobile devices to research, create, and submit what they have learned. She won the 2014 Yale-Lynn Hall Teacher Action Research Prize (See her submission here) and was a speaker at the 2014 Yale Education Leadership Conference. She teachers and is also the Mock Trial Team Coach at Reading Memorial High School in Reading, Massachusetts. Kerry is admitted to practice law in Massachusetts, has a BA in Politics and Secondary Education from Saint Anselm College, and is a Level II Professional Ski Instructor of America.

Saturday, April 11, 2015

I chat with, Carlie and Anna, who are new to the profession. We will chat about the generation gap, the realities of theory vs. practice, their expectations, and much more.

Anna Zehnpfennig is a 2nd/3rd grade multi age special education teacher in Waukesha, WI. She attended Carroll University and received her bachelors degree in Elementary Education and Special Education with a minor in Early Childhood. Last year, Anna participated in a year long residency program within the Hartland Lakeside School District where she began to foster her practice and experience teaching first hand. Anna's goal as an educator is to empower students to become intrinsic learners through nurturing a personalized learning environment. As Anna continues in the education field, she hopes to learn and grow in becoming an educator that creates learning environments, nurturing all students to independently discover their love for learning. Connect with Anna on Twitter: @anna_rosez.

Carlie Stigler is a 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade multiage teacher at Fond du Lac STEM Academy in Fond du Lac Wisconsin. She attended Carroll University and received her bachelors degree in Elementary Education and Special Education with a minor in Early Childhood. During her student teaching experience, Carlie participated in a yearlong residency program within the Hartland Lakeside School District. This opportunity allowed her to engage and grow in working with teachers and students, developing habits of a reflective and collaborative educator. As a first year teacher Carlie is on a mission to facilitate learning spaces that embody community, inclusion, collaboration, and personalizing learning amongst and between educators and students. As Carlie continues to grow as an educator and learner, she is excited to be a part of the changes in our education system that need to occur to meet the interests and demands of our world.

Saturday, April 4, 2015

On today's episode of The Dr. Will Show, I chat with Emily Roberts, LPC about mindfulness and her work with teaching mindfulness to young people.

Emily Roberts is a licensed psychotherapist specializing in working with teens and young adults. Also known as The Guidance Girl , Emily has made it her to help others feel in control of their lives. She is a contributor for Dr. Drew OnCall on HLN where she educates viewers on mental health. Her first book Express Yourself: A Teen Girl's Guide to Speaking Up and Becoming Who You Are is out June 1, 2015and focuses on helping teen girls communicate with confidence and effectiveness. She practices Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and teaches groups on DBT and mindfulness to children as young as 5. She also teaches at schools and presents at conferences for parents and educators on self-esteem, mindfulness and the teen brain. Emily and her dog fluffy dog Milo split their time between the busy streets of New York City and Austin, Texas.

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